Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 3
Arcana-vidhi: The Method of Deity Worship
Vedic, Tantric, and Mixed
नि:सृतं ते मुखाम्भोजाद् यदाह भगवानज: । पुत्रेभ्यो भृगुमुख्येभ्यो देव्यै च भगवान् भव: ॥ ३ ॥ एतद् वै सर्ववर्णानामाश्रमाणां च सम्मतम् । श्रेयसामुत्तमं मन्ये स्त्रीशूद्राणां च मानद ॥ ४ ॥
niḥsṛtaṁ te mukhāmbhojād yad āha bhagavān ajaḥ putrebhyo bhṛgu-mukhyebhyo devyai ca bhagavān bhavaḥ
Ô Seigneur magnanime, les enseignements de ce culte de la Divinité émanèrent d’abord de Ta bouche de lotus. Puis le Bienheureux Aja, Brahmā, les transmit à ses fils, conduits par Bhṛgu, et le Seigneur Śiva les enseigna à la Déesse Pārvatī. Cette voie est admise et convenable pour tous les varṇa et tous les āśrama ; ainsi je tiens l’adoration de Ta forme d’Arca pour la plus bénéfique de toutes les pratiques spirituelles, même pour les femmes et les śūdra.
FAQs
In 11.27.3, Kṛṣṇa affirms that the principles of arcana are not invented but descend through authoritative speakers like Brahmā and Śiva, establishing a recognized paramparā for deity worship.
Kṛṣṇa cites revered transmitters of Vedic wisdom to show that the arcana process is universally accepted among great progenitors and sages, and thus trustworthy for spiritual practice.
Seek guidance from authentic lineages and verified sources rather than self-made spirituality—practice devotion with methods grounded in proven tradition.